Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) has introduced online privacy legislation in the House of Representatives focused on giving Web users information and control over what data Internet companies collect about them and how they are tracked, The Wall Street Journal reports. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT). It requires companies to create privacy policies informing consumers about personal data collection, sale and use and calls for a policing mechanism to ensure compliance, to be approved by the Federal Trade Commission. Justin Brookman of the Center for Democracy and Technology says a clause allowing federal legislation to preempt state laws means "all the good laws California has done are out the window." (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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